Over ten years ago CANVS Corporation began field testing (with the the end users in the real-world) what would become the United States Military's first tactically deployed Color Night Vision Goggles. Since 2003 The United States Special Operations Command, The Night Vision and Electronics Sensors Directorate Fort Belvoir (known as Night Vision Labs) and a small and select group of elite US forces have been effectively using the CANVS Color Night Vision Goggles with very little publicity or fanfare.
Special Forces Medics were one of the first community to support the project, and in recognition of their interest I participated in a number of experiments and field trials including being present when CANVS Color Night Vision Goggles were used during gun shot wound surgery in the dark.
I never intended or represented the CANVS Color Night Vision Goggle as a replacement for anything (breaking other peoples rice bowls is very dangerous), instead it was pitched as another tool to have in the tool kit. For specific missions where Color provides an increased capability it is an awesome addition.
If you like apples but don't like oranges it is not an issue. But there is a big difference between just deciding you will take an apple and leave an orange, as opposed to going out of your way to destroy the orange farmer, his crop, and lean on anyone who he purchases equipment from, and make sure that NO ONE CAN DEPLOY WITH AN ORANGE!
One of the most disturbing aspects of this is that the folks who still to this day desperately need this technology are being denied (or the capability is being illegally supplied by other vendors). Based on the laws associated with the SBIR (Small Business Innovative Research) Program, CANVS Color Night Vision Goggle Technology can only be purchased from CANVS through 2014 (five years from the end of the CANVS SBIR Phase-III effort).
Without the Government leaning on the tube suppliers to work with CANVS (this was done very effectively in the past on numerous occasions when the Government needed CANVS products) it is just not going to happen. Seeing as CANVS currently has two Law Suites against the US Government in Federal Court a snowball has a better chance in hell than CANVS being able to get support to deliver this technology for the troops.
At some point I hope to reach a critical mass through court orders and public opinion to rectify the situation. But till then I have to suffer like I did today when a forward deployed medic with the US Armed Forces called to ask how he could get a pair and I was not able to sell, loan, or give him a set of goggles.
Dear Uncle Sam:
Please Help.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Alexander Walkenstein
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